Long Island (Long Island)
The Long Island, part of the Long Island Group within the Furneaux Group, is a 313 ha unpopulated granite and dolerite island, located in Bass Strait, lying north-west of the Cape Barren Island in Tasmania, in south-eastern Australia. The island is part of the Franklin Sound Islands Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because it holds over 1% of the world populations of six bird species.
The island was first settled in the early 19th century and was intended to be the main centre of habitation in the Furneaux Group. Due to the island's small size the settlers, at one stage numbering a hundred, outgrew the island resources. The population, having to relocate or face starvation, moved to adjacent Cape Barren Island. Long Island was Australia's first post office south of Sydney. It is currently not permanently inhabited and is used to graze sheep.
The island was first settled in the early 19th century and was intended to be the main centre of habitation in the Furneaux Group. Due to the island's small size the settlers, at one stage numbering a hundred, outgrew the island resources. The population, having to relocate or face starvation, moved to adjacent Cape Barren Island. Long Island was Australia's first post office south of Sydney. It is currently not permanently inhabited and is used to graze sheep.
Map - Long Island (Long Island)
Map
Country - Australia
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The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from south east Asia approximately 65,000 years ago, during the last ice age. Arriving by sea, they settled the continent and had formed approximately 250 distinct language groups by the time of European settlement, maintaining some of the longest known continuing artistic and religious traditions in the world. Australia's written history commenced with the European maritime exploration of Australia. The Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon was the first known European to reach Australia, in 1606. In 1770, the British explorer James Cook mapped and claimed the east coast of Australia for Great Britain, and the First Fleet of British ships arrived at Sydney in 1788 to establish the penal colony of New South Wales. The European population grew in subsequent decades, and by the end of the 1850s gold rush, most of the continent had been explored by European settlers and an additional five self-governing British colonies established. Democratic parliaments were gradually established through the 19th century, culminating with a vote for the federation of the six colonies and foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. Australia has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and wealthy market economy.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
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AUD | Australian dollar | $ | 2 |
ISO | Language |
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EN | English language |